Dream Kilt “Project: Excalibur”

**ChattanCat** · 29th December 07, 06:39 AM

Sara,
Practice, Practice, Practice, then make a kilt.

Unless you have already made a kilt before.
I practiced on making a kilt with some cheap wool that I picked up on ebay.

**Sheep In Wolf's Clothing** · 29th December 07, 12:00 PM

The MacArthur will be my 5th knife pleated and 7th over all. I finished this one (MacNeil of Barra) for my St.Andrews Day lunch this November:

(It needs to be pressed again I think. I have wore it about 5 times recently and once in sleet)
I agree kilt making is something that must be practiced, and often. I think my almost month break is messing with my abilities to sew straight, but I'll get it back.(Or Die Trying!!

)
Sara

**Alan H** · 29th December 07, 07:42 PM

Little story for you.

Once upon a time I got involved in some whacko web site for people who wear kilts. This project came up where the site was going to have its own tartan designed and woven up. I got involved in this project. When the time came to have the custom tartan delivered, three metres were heading my direction. I wrote to the professional kiltmaker that was coordinating this project...aka Steve Ashton of Freedom Kilts.... saying how excited I was to have the material for my first kilt coming my way.

His response?

OH, NO YOU DON'T. He told me to go find some cheap stuff and practice first. I was sure glad I did. That first hand-sewn took me 47 hours of work. It's hardly a masterpiece, though it's very wearable. After two years (more or less) it's still going strong, I wore it last night. However, I built three tartan kilts and four X-Kilts before I tackled my X-Marks-The-Scot tartan knife-pleat kilt. I'm glad I did, too.

You might try one on less costly material before really diving in, whole hog, on your really nice tartan material.

**Sheep In Wolf's Clothing** · 29th December 07, 09:54 PM

Ya, my first kilt took me 52 hours a year and a half ago, since then I have cut the rate down to 38 hours (That's what the MacNeil took me, of course work kept getting in the way) I am taking my time with this one. It always takes me 5 or six pleats to get back into the habit of sewing properly (of course I go and rip those ones out and all is right with the world again)
If I start to get frustrated I put it away.I am in no rush, the kilt is for me and I want it done correctly. All of the kilts I have made were leading up to this one. They have been all pleated the same way, the way I wanted this one to be pleated.
Thanks again for the advice.

Sara

**Wompet** · 31st December 07, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by Sheep In Wolf's Clothing

How it turned out:

(You will notice that Sporran..I mean Gary my sister’s cat, is making sure we followed Barb’s instructions. She (yes Gary is a girl) hates me except for when I am sewing at the table, then she sucks up to me..this is why I am a dog person!

Off topic - Grant, don't go there.
On topic - my cat does something similar. Whenever I'm busy, and can't give attention, that's when she demands it. Better a dog, to sit on your feet while you're working.

Just out of curiosity - is the apron a straight-line "A" shape? I don't see an "S" curve to it.

**Sheep In Wolf's Clothing** · 31st December 07, 07:03 PM

I fixed the apron, I ripped those pleats out and resewed them. I was slightly excited the first day and took those pics at midnight. It's coming along..it's just to bad I won't have the time to work on it in January.. it's hell month at work.
Sara